Located in:
- Program-specific Requirements for Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Activities under Title I-B
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include the following with respect to activities carried out under subtitle B—
a. 2. C. Describe how the State will utilize Rapid Response funds to respond to layoffs and plant closings and coordinate services to quickly aid companies and their affected workers. States also should describe any layoff aversion strategies they have implemented to address at risk companies and workers.
Current Narrative:
Since 2015, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has had a grant system in place that allows it to distribute funds from its rapid response reserve in an effective manner so that the state's 11 local rapid response teams can provide needed aid to companies and employees impacted by workforce reductions and business closings occurring within their respective workforce development areas (WDAs). The grant system involves three types of grants – Rapid Response Annual Allotment Grants, Dislocation Grants, and Additional Assistance Grants.
Annual Allotment Grants provide each of the local rapid response teams with a dedicated source of funding to support layoff transition activities. Each year, DWD earmarks a portion of its total rapid response funds for this purpose. A formula is then used to determine the amount that each of the local WDAs receive. The grant awards can be used flexibly, however, all costs charged to the grants must be connected to building, maintaining, and operating the local WDA's rapid response program – this includes staff and other costs for planning, coordination, and the provision of local rapid response services. Per the grant agreement, a minimum level of rapid response services must be offered for each layoff event impacting at least 25 employees. As layoff events grow in the number impacted, the minimum level of services to be offered also expands.
Dislocation Grants provide the local rapid response teams with supplemental funding to cover staff and other costs associated with the provision of layoff transition activities for specific layoff events. All costs charged to these grants must be related to the delivery of rapid response services to impacted employees from the layoff event for which the grant was awarded.
Additional Assistance Grants provide local Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) with funding to supplement their Title I Dislocated Worker Program formula funding allocations when significant layoffs place unanticipated demand on a local workforce development area's existing formula resources. DWD has established eligibility criteria that must be met before a local WDB is eligible for funding.
DWD also uses funding from its rapid response reserve to invest in projects and initiatives that enhance the state's rapid response program. Past examples include: developing web-based dislocation events and rapid response services tracking system, configuring a dislocated worker paper survey so that optical character recognition software could be used to compile results from completed surveys, creating a web-based dislocated worker survey, outfitting the local rapid response teams with laptops and other equipment so they can better integrate technology into the provision of rapid response services, and developing a series of professionally produced videos on layoff-related topics. DWD continues to work with its local rapid response teams and other partners to identify ways to improve and enhance the state's rapid response program.
Early intervention and comprehensive pre-layoff assistance are the foundation of the state's layoff aversion strategy which focuses on training, supporting, and empowering its local rapid response teams to:
- Identify and connect with employers at risk of permanent employee layoffs as far in advance of the layoffs as possible. In this respect, DWD will continue to explore options to monitor media sources more efficiently and effectively for news about layoffs and/or indicators that a company is at risk of layoffs so the information can be shared with the local rapid response teams. The Department will also continue to work with the local rapid response teams to strengthen communication and collaboration with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the extended enterprise of local economic development organizations.
- Educate at-risk employers about the state's work-share program.
- Help minimize the duration of unemployment resulting from layoffs by promoting proactive and comprehensive pre-layoff assistance to impacted employees.